Machine for sewing shoes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. H. BUPPUM. MACHINE EUR SEWING SHOES.

(No Model.)

No. 410,145. Patented Sept. 3, 1889.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.V

H. H. BUFPUM. MACHINE FOR SEWING SHOES.

Patented sept. 3, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.A

HERBERT H. BUFFUM, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS. p

MACHINE FOR SEWING SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,145, dated September 3, 1889.

Application filed February 25, 1889. Serial No. 301,071. No model.)`

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT H. BUFFUM, of Whitman, county of Plymouth, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to a sewing-machine of the kind known as the McKay sewing-I machine, and it consists mainly in the novel construction of the horn and mechanism cooperating therewith for controlling the thread and operating the whirlthat lays the thread into the hook of the needle, and also in the means employed for waxing the thread.

In the McKay sewing-machine the shoe is supported right side out upon a horn through which the thread is carried to the point where the stitch is formed, said horn containing at its tip and directly under the needle a device called the whirl, which rotates or oscillates at each stitch, so as to lay the thread into the hook of the needle, which is forced down through the sole and edge of the upper of the shoe, so that on the return or outward movement of the needle the thread is drawn out from the 'upper and sole in the form of a loop, which is drawn through the loop formed in a similar manner at the preceding stitch, thus enchaining the thread at the outside 'f the sole. As the sole and the upper are temporarily connected before being sewed on machines of this kind, the horn or shoe-support has to be inclined at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the axis of the needle in order to reach forward to the toe part of the sole while it is in the inside of the upper, and in the machines as usually constructed the entire upwardly-extending part of the horn has been inclined at said angle, the base of the horn being pivoted in line with the axis ofthe needle, and extending horizontally outwardl from its axis, and then diagonally upward to its tip, which is at a `point just below the end of the needle. Such construction is objectionable, as in sewing around the extreme toe portion of the shoe the heel end has to be lowered, so as to bring the sole port-ion. nearly to the same angle as the horn, and the upper edge of the counter or heel-stiftener is thus pressed down against the horn, and is frequently broken down, so as to injure the quality of the shoe. An attempt has been made to obviate this objection by slightly depressing the back of the horn at the part where the edge of the counter depressed; but the internal thread-controlling or whirl-operating mechanism has heretofore been so constructed as to prevent a sufficient depression of the horn to obviate the objectionsj ust referred to, so that such expedient only diminishes the evil eiects to a certain extent without wholly obviating or removing them.

The object of the present invent-ion is to produce a horn that will properly support the inner surface of the sole at all points while being sewed without interferingwith the upper, and which will permit the heel end of the shoe to be depressed as far as required without bringing the edge of the counter or heelstiffener against the horn. To accomplish this result, the horn extends diagonally downi.

ward from its tip at about the usual angle, but for a distance slightly less than the length of the shoes to be sewed, andv then inclines downward in the `opposite direction, so that its base is nearly over the axis about which the horn revolves, said horn thus making an angle about midway of its height. The Whirl at the tip of the horn is of the usual construction, consisting of a ring through which the point of the needle descends, said ring being provided with an eye, through which the thread is passed, and with beveled gear-teeth meshing with a beveled pinion at the end ofa shaft extending through the horn. The said shaft in accordance with this invention terminates at the angle midway in the lengthof the horn, and is connected with another shaft which extends down to the base of the horn, and is rotated by gearing connected with a shaft extending through the axis of the horn, which shaft is itself actuated in unisonwith the 'needle-actuating mechanism at the head of the machine in the usual manner. The said shafts, extending from the base to the tip of the horn, may be connected in any suitable manner, so that the lower one transmits rotating motion to the upper, they being shown in this instance as connected by a uni- .comes when the heel portion of the shoe is y IOO versal joint, which is found in practice to operate well for this purpose. The front or inner portion of the horn is provided with a movable covering-plate, which may be fastened in position to wholly inclose the mechanism, but may be easily swung aside to afford access to the said mechanism for the purpose of threading the machine, oiling the working parts, (Src.

The invention further consists in various details of construction, which will be hereinafter pointed out, and in appliances for waxing the thread and keeping the horn heated, so as to make the wax-thread pliable until after the stitch is completed.-

Figure l is a front elevation of a lower por- .tion' of a McKay sewing-machine provided with a horn embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 3 through the wax-receptacle; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 t-hrough the waxreceptacle; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of the horn, showing the inclosed mechanism and the wax-receptacle in side elevation; Fig. 5, a ,plan view of the base portion of the horn and mechanism contained therein; Fig. G, an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail of a portion of the horn and shaft that operates the whirl and devices for supporting and adjusting the same; and Fig. '7,' a transverse section on line 7 7, Fig. 6.

The horn forming the subject of this invent-ion is of proper size to be interchanged with the horns now commonly used in Mc- Kay sewing-machines, and is constructed to be operated by said machines without any change in the other parts, the said horn a, Fig. l, being pivoted on the frame-work b, forming the base of the machine, so that it revolves about an axis in a bearing at h2 in line with the aXis of the needle c, the actuating mechanism for which needle, together with the other co-operating devices at the top of the machine, are not shown, as they are of well-known construction. The said horn a extends downward diagonally from its tip opposite the needle for a certain distance, as

" shownv at a2, so that its extremity may extend out inside the upper of the shoe toward the toe portion thereof; but, instead of extending whollyT down to the base at the same or substantially the same angle, the horn, in accordance with this invention, is turned about midway of its length and extends to the base at an opposite inclination to the tip portion, as shown at a3, so that its base is nearly over the axis b2, about which the horn revolves in the manipulation of the machine. The inclined tip portion a2 is shorter than the length of the shoes, and by inclining the lower portion a3 in the opposite direction a free space is left for the depression of the heel portion of the shoe, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig.

l, so that the shoe-sole can be brought down nearly to the same inclina-tion as the tip portion a2 of the horn without crushing or bending the counter or heel-stilfener of the shoe,

as takes place when the entire horn is of the same inclination as the tip portion a2.

The tip of the horn, is provided with a whirl d, Fig. 4, which co-operates with the thread and the needle c in the usual manner, making an oscillating movement at each stitch, so as to lay the thread e, which passesv through the horn to the said whirl, into the hook of the needle c each time that the latter is forced down through the stock and through the central opening of the whirl d. The said whirl is toothed at its periphery and meshes with a pinion f, formed at the end of a shaft f2, extending through the tip portion of the horn and connected with a shaft r, provided at its lower end with a spur-wheel g2, meshing with an intermediate g3, itself meshing with another intermediate g4, that is in turn engaged and actuated by a spur-wheel g5, connected with a shaft gl', that extends down to a point near the lower portion of the frame b, (see Fig. 1,) where it is actuated by mechanism connected with the stitch-forming mechanism at the head of the machine in the usual manner, so that the said shaft gG makes an oscillating movement at the proper time with relation to each movement of the needle, and through the connecting mechanism just dcscribed also causes the whirl d to make an oscillatory movement, by which the thread is laid into the hook of the needle. The gearing g2 g3 g4 is such that the revolutionl of the horn bodily about its axis at b2 itself produces no rotation of the whirl d relative to the needle, so that the movements of said whirl are in the proper relation t0 the said needle in whatever position the'horn'may be in upon its axis.

The inner or concave side of the horn is provided with a cover a4, extending substantially from the base to the tip, and pivoted at a5 (see Fig. 5) at one side of the base, so that it can be swung open like a door to afford access to the interior of the horn and working parts inclosed therein. The said cover when closed is fastened by a screw or other clamping device a6. (See Fig. l.)

The gears g3 g4 g5 are inclosed "by a capplate h, (see Fig. 5,) which may be removed when the cover or door a4 is open; but said cap-plate is provided with short tubes h2 just above the bearings of the gear-wheels, so that the latter can be lubricated without removing the cover h.'

The shafts f2 and g, that transmit the movement from the gearing at the base of the horn to the whirl, are shown in this instance as connected by a universal joint at t, each of said shafts having forked ends i2 and t3, each pivotally connected with an intermediate block i4, and the pivoted axes being at right angles. It is not essential,however, that the connection between the shafts should be a universal or gimbal joint, as there is no variation in the angle between the two parts of the shaft in the operation of the machine, so that any connection by which one shaft may im- IIO part rotary motion to another at any angle to it may be used. The lower end of the shaft g has its bearing in a step-piece k, pivoted in a forked block k2, having a stem that is longitudinally movable and capable of swiveling in a bearing 7c3 at the under side of the plate b3 at the base of the horn which supports the gears g2 g3 g4 g5. This construction enables the step-block k to be adjusted so as to make the gears g2 g3 mesh together properly, and when said step-block is in proper position it is'secured by a clamp or set-screw kt, engaging the stem of the forked piece 7a2.

The shaft f2, that carries vthe pinion f, is made adjustable, so t-hat said pinion may be made to mesh properly with the teeth of the whirl d, and the said shaft is supported in the horn as follows: The upper portion f2 of` the shaft works in a tubular bore in the tip piece 0.7 of the horn and has its lower end enter within a bore in the lower portion f3 (see Figs. G and 7) of said shaft, which is of larger diameter than the upper portion f2, said portion f3 being made integral with the `fork i2 of the universal joint. The lower end of the portion f2 is slotted or forked, as shown at f4, Fig. 6, and embraces a pinf, passing trans- .Versely through the larger tubular portion f3 of the shaft, so that the two parts of the shaft are fastened together for rotation, but the upper part is longitudinally adjustable in the lower part. The lower part f3 has its bearings in a y tubular bearing piece or sleeve fm, and is prevented from longitudinal movement therein by engagement of the lower end of the sleeve with the shoulder formed at the junction of the shaft f? and fork i2, as will be understood from Fig. 6, and by engagement of the upper end of the sleeve with the hub or boss 'm2, keyed to the portion f3 of the'shaft by a transverse pin m3. The sleeve m itself is clamped between a projecting portion a8 at the inside of the horn and a removable block a, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said block being screwed to the horn and the said bearingsleeve m having a circumferential groove m5 to receive the screws, as shown in Fig. 7. The sleeve 'nt is thus prevented from rotating and forms the bearing forthe portion f3 of the shaft, while confining the same against longitudinal movement, and the inner bearingsurface of the sleeve m is lubricated through a passage m6 in the back of the horn leading to a circumferential groove around the bearing-bushing, from which groove is a radial passage m7 (see Fig. G) into the bearingsurface.

In order to adjust the upper portion f2 of the shaft longitudinally and to prevent further longitudinal movement after it has been properly adjusted, the said shaft is provided at its lower end with a hub n, having a cir-- cumferential flange n2, engaging a semi-circumferential'groove in the hub or block m2, and thus preventing movement of the hub u along the shaft with relation to the hub m2 and lower portion f3 of the shaft, which has no longitudinal movement. Theshaft f2 is fastened'with relation to the hub laby a setscrew a3, and by loosening said set-screw the portion f2 of the shaft may be adjusted 1011-' j gitudinally without disengaging its forked end from the pin f5, after which by tightenv ing said setscrew n3 "further longitudinal movement of the portion f2 of the shaft is prevented. a i

The horn is shown in this instance provided with means for waxing and guiding and conf trolling the thread to be used. The said thread, in the form of the usual ball, is placed in a receptacle o, (see Figs. land 5,) fastened of movement toward the stitching-point being v indicated by arrows where necessary. v

The waxing-'receptacle p is shown as made in a casting fastened to the main horn-casting near the base thereof, as indicated at p2, Figs. 4t and 5, the said receptacle consisting of a reservoir or chamber in the upper part of said casting, (best shown in Figs. Zand 3,) the said reservoir being divided bya suitable partition p3, extending nearly to the bottom, into two parts, the part at one side of Asaid partition containing a guide-wheel e2, over which the thread e is passed and by/whichy the thread is caused to pass through the lowest part of the receptacle, so as to be im= mersed in the wax if there is any in thereceptacle. The part of the 'chamber at `the other side of the receptacle is provided with a hinged cover p4, which may be lifted at any time, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, to replenish the wax, and the partition p3 prevents the lumps of vcold wax from coming against the wheel e2 and thread, as it is only when the wax is melted and flows under the parti`- tion p3 that it can reach the said wheel. i

The portionA of the receptacle containing the wheel cgis provided with a cover p5, which may bescrewed in place,`as shown in Fig. 4, as it does not need to be removed in the operation of the machine, and said cover supports a scraping device (best shown in Fig. 3) consisting of a stationary bar or blade r and a co-operating blade r2, supported from a rock-shaft or pivot r3, provided with an arm r4, acted upon by a spring T5, which tends to keep the blade r2 down opposite the blade r, so as to scrape off the surplus wax as the thread passes up between the blades, as .will be understood from Fig. 3.

or other enlargement of theV thread,s`uch knot raising the bla-de r2, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3and thus passing between the blades without causing the thread to break. After the thread passes through the clearingblades o' r2 it is carried around a pulley e3, in order to enable its direction t0 be changed, and then'passes throi'lgh an auxiliary clearer The spring fr@ permits the blade Ir2 to yield against `a knot` IOC IOS

IIO

or rubber r6, which has further tendency to smooth down and even the wax upon it, after which the thread passes over the tensionwheel e4, which may be of usual construction, and from said tension-wheel it passes through an opening in the horn, as shown in Fig. 4, and t-hen over a guide-pulley e5, supported on an arm or bracket rising from the gearingcovering plate h, and thence up through the horn, passing over a pulley e6 on the cover portion a4 of the horn at the angle in the horn, and thence up between the main portion and cover portion to the usual eye in the whirl (l. l

In order to obviate the necessity of passing the end of a new ball of thread into the waxing-receptacle and over the various guides when one ball is exhausted, the outer end of the ball is tied at the ball-receptacle 0, as indicated at 02, Fig. 5, and consequently when the ball is exhausted the thread will break; but such breakage will invariably'occur at the needle, as it will have a cutting action on the thread, and it will then be necessary merely to put a new ball in the receptacle o and tie the inner end thereof to the end of the twine that remains from the last ball, when the thread maybe pulled through from the tip of the horn, the united ends passing through the various guides and blades without trouble until the end of the new ball of twine is brought up through the whirl ready for sewing.

The waxing-receptacle and horn may be heated sufficiently to keep the wax iiuid in the receptacle and soft and pliable on the thread by means of a gas-flame when that is available; but, as shown in this instance, the horn is provided with a lamp t,which is made substantially T-shaped in plan extending across transversely under the wax-receptacle, as shown in Fig. 2, and also extending out beneat-h the base of the horn, as shown in Fig. 4, the said lamp being provided with two wick-tubes 2153, the former terminating beneath the wax-receptacle and the latter beneath the plate b3 at the base of the horn. There is sufficient space between the shell at the rear of the horn and the plates b3 and 7i, at either side of the shaft g to permit the heated products to rise up through the horn, and thus keep the entire horn warm up to the tip, where the stitch is made. A cover u, hinged at the back of the wax-receptacle, covers the thread and parts that co-operate with it as it passes from the wax-receptacle into the horn; but said cover may be raised, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, when it is necessary to have access to the wax-clearers, &c.

A hand-lever -w is provided for relieving the tension on the thread when it is desired to draw the thread out rapidly, said lever being pivoted at- 102 and provided with a camplate w3, (best shown in Fig. 5,) which acts on the stem of the part that applies the friction to the tension-wheel.

It will be seen that the thread-waxing appliances occupy a position with relation to the axis of the horn which is usually occupied by the horizontal arm that supports the base of the horn, and that the herein-described horn and whirl-operating mechanism in connection with the waxing appliances occupy but little if any more space and have but little if any more weight than the horn without waxing appliances heretofore commonly employed in machines of this class.

I claiml. In a machine for sewing boots and shoes, a pivotally-supported horn having its lower and upper portions inclined with relation to one another, a whirl at the tip of the horn, and actuating-shafts therefor in the upper and lower portions of the horn connected by a universal joint at or near the point where the inclination of the horn changes, a shaft extending through the axis of the horn, and gear-wheels g2 g3 g g5, connecting the same with the whirl-operating shafts, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for sewing boots and shoes, a horn to support the sole inside the upper, said horn being inclined downward from its supporting-tip for a portion of its length and turned at an intermediate point at a different angle toward its base, and a movable cover for the inner or concave side of said horn, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a hollow horn having a closed space or chamber extending substantially from its base to its tip, the said horn being provided at its tip with a whirl and at its base with a dry thread and wax receptacle, with a heater having burners below the wax-receptacle and below the base of the horn, and thread-guides contained within the closed space in the horn, whereby the thread passes from the base to the tip of the horn through the interiorof said closed space,

, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for sewing boots and shoes, a horn to support the sole inside the upper, having its upper and lower portions at an angle to one another, combined with a whirl and two actuating-shafts therefor in the upper and lower portions of said horn, respectively, said shafts having their axes inclined to one another and being connected at or near the angle of the horn, the upper one of said shafts being made in two parts, the lower portion of which is restrained from longitudinal movement by a bearing in the horn, and the upper portion of which is provided with a pinion IOO IIO

IZO

meshing with the whirl and longitudinally HERBERT H. BUFFUM.

Vitnesses:

Jos. P. LIvERMoRE, M. E. HILL. 

